Page 50 of Lana Pecherczyk
He released her hands and flashed a grin. “If I were truly angry with you, Sparkles, I’d collect them.”
“Them?” Horror dawned as she mentally tallied each utterance.
“You’ve said the no-no word more than once.”
“The first one, I admit, was my fault, but the rest were because you told me to say it.”
His shoulders lifted in an elegant shrug. “Maybe I’ll return one. But the rest I’m keeping.”
“That math doesn’t add up.”
“Does if you’re a crow.”
“Far out,” she managed, searching for her lost dignity. “Don’t do me any favors.”
“You saying you owe me a favor now too?”
“Are you for real?”
“No.” Laughter burst from him, rich and unexpected. Addictive. He gestured toward a worn path winding into the hills. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”
Blake lingered, savoring the sound. Deep and genuine, his laughter rolled like distant thunder, curling warmth through her chest. The knowledge that she’d coaxed this rare moment from him, this glimpse behind his armor, filled her with a quiet pride she hadn’t felt in years.
Maybe ever.
Chapter
Sixteen
Nero’s fingers tapped against his desktop—one-two-three, one-two-three—matching the rhythm of water dripping somewhere from the Sky Tower’s greenhouse domed ceiling. He pulled open the third drawer, peered inside, then slammed it shut with enough force to rattle the wilting plants nearby.
He could have sworn he had put it there the night before.
A whisper touched his ear.You never could keep track of things.
He straightened, refusing to turn toward the voice. Through the grimy glass dome, the dead forest stretched toward the horizon. No movement outside. Just ghosts in his head.
“Nero,” his queen said behind him. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to finish the game this century.”
“Game?”
“The chess game.” A sigh. “Are you done searching?”
He turned and found Pandora sitting at the chess table, studying the board. Her dark bob framed a face too perfect for this dying world.
“I misplaced something,” he said.
She raised her brows and looked pointedly at his closed fist.
He opened it and found the mini screwdriver he’d been searching for. When had he picked it up?
Weak,the voice said.You surround yourself with weakness.
“You told me she tortured him,” Pandora said, returning her gaze to the pieces on the board.
“She did.” Nero cleared his throat and joined her at the table. “As did I. As did Bones. As did anyone I let into his cell.”
“And yet he never gave her up.” Her lips flattened as Nero moved his knight. She moved a pawn. “Stubborn. Or admirable, depending on which way you want to look at it.”
